The father of a man accused of plotting terror attacks in New York says the charges against his son do n't add up .

`` It is an accusation that does not seem very true , because my son was never involved in any terrorist acts , '' father Juan Jose Pimentel , 51 , told CNN en Español Tuesday . `` My son is not capable of something like that . ''

Pimentel , who lives in the Dominican Republic , said his son -- 27-year-old Jose Pimentel -- had been depressed for the past two years , ever since he and his wife separated . Juan Jose Pimentel spoke to CNN en Español by phone and also in his hometown of La Vega .

`` He had his son and she took his son and he was depressed because of this . But he has been a happy and normal boy and never had any problem with terrorism , '' Juan Jose Pimentel said .

Authorities described Jose Pimentel as a `` lone wolf '' who was inspired by al Qaeda propaganda to plot attacks against police officers , patrol cars and troops returning from military service abroad .

Juan Jose Pimentel said his son converted to Islam five years ago , but never appeared to be an extremist .

`` He followed this religion but he was never a fanatic . He led a normal life , including coming to this country , '' Juan Jose Pimentel said . `` He did n't change . He continued to be a normal person . ''

Authorities arraigned Jose Pimentel Sunday night in a New York court on state charges of possession of a bomb for terrorism , conspiracy as a crime of terrorism , soliciting support for a terrorist act , being a felon in possession of a weapon and conspiracy to commit criminal mischief and arson , according to a criminal complaint .

He allegedly told police he was an hour away from completing his first bomb when he was arrested , according to the complaint .

`` Pimentel 's behavior morphed from simply talking about such acts to actions -- namely , bomb making , '' New York Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly told reporters .

Kelly said Jose Pimentel was a follower of Anwar al-Awlaki , the radical U.S.-born cleric who rose to become a top figure in al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula before a U.S. drone strike killed him this year in Yemen .

In August , the suspect allegedly decided to carry out the bomb plot , Kelly said . He `` jacked up his speed '' after al-Awlaki died on September 30 , according to the police commissioner .

Jose Pimentel , also known as Muhammad Yusuf , according to the criminal complaint , had a `` very active and very public online profile , '' prosecutors said . They cited the website TrueIslam1 .

Jose Pimentel 's attorney , Joseph Zablocki , said Monday that the case against his client is nowhere near as strong as authorities say .

`` As they admit , he has a very public online profile , and that flies in the face of everything that they 've said , '' Zablocki said at the hearing . `` This is not the way you go about committing terrorist attacks . ''

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Juan Jose Pimentel says his son was n't involved in terrorism

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Father : Jose Pimentel became depressed after he and his wife separated

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He `` was never a fanatic , '' the father says , describing his son 's Muslim faith

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The 27-year-old is accused of plotting bomb attacks in New York